Apparatus for cutting a row of capsules from a capsule strip and for fixing them on a row of filled receptacles

ABSTRACT

The invention provides apparatus for cutting out a row of capsules from a capsule strip and for fixing them on a transverse row of filled receptacles advancing stepwise in an installation for filling receptacles. The apparatus comprising: means for causing a capsule strip to advance stepwise over the path along which rows of receptacles advance; cutting means for cutting out a row of capsules from said capsule strip, said cutting means being disposed parallel to the row of receptacles to be closed and being located above said row; transfer means for transferring a row of capsules from the station for cutting out said capsules to a station for placing capsules on the receptacles to be closed in a row; fixing means for at least partially fixing the capsules that have been placed on the rims of respective ones of said receptacles; and control means for controlling said means for advancing the capsule strip stepwise, said means for cutting out capsules, said transfer means, and said fixing means, so that they operate synchronously with the means for advancing said rows of filled receptacles. The spacing of the cutting means is smaller than the spacing of the receptacles to be closed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to apparatus for cutting a row of capsules from acapsule strip and for fixing them on a transverse row of filledreceptacles advancing stepwise through a receptacle-fillinginstallation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In installations for filling receptacles one by one, filled receptaclespass one after another through a closure station in which a capsuledispenser brings a capsule onto the receptacle for closing and thecapsule is sealed to the rim of said receptacle by conventional means.As a general rule, such capsules are delivered in sachets and therearises a problem of storing and handling such sachets. However a moreimportant problem lies with guaranteeing that the sachets and thecapsules are sterile, particularly when the receptacles containfoodstuffs.

In installations that thermoform receptacles in a strip ofthermoplastic-material, that fill the thermoformed receptacles, and thatclose the filled receptacles, it is conventional to apply a capsulestrip against the strip of thermoplastic material after at least one rowof receptacles has been filled, to seal the two strips together, e.g. byheat-sealing, via the rims of the filled receptacles, and then to cutthrough the entire thickness of both strips simultaneously so as toseparate the receptacles from the strips from which they have been cutout, leaving a perforated scrap strip. In such installations, the stripsadvance stepwise and in each cycle at least one row of receptacles ismade, rows of receptacles made during earlier cycles are filled, and thefilled receptacles are sealed with the capsule strip in a subsequentcycle. Such installations are fitted with means for ensuring that thethermoplastic strip and the capsule strip are sterile, each strip beingdelivered from a reel.

If an installation of the above type is used for thermoforming, filling,and closing receptacles that are reentrant, i.e. receptacles in whichthe rim is smaller in diameter than the body, then the perforated scrapstrip comprises a large amount both of thermoplastic material and ofcapsule strip material.

In order to avoid high levels of wastage in the capsule strip, it istempting to use capsules that are delivered in sachets and are dispensedfrom a dispenser placed above each column of receptacles filled in thethermoforming and filling installation, as in installations for fillingindividual receptacles, in spite of all of the problems of guaranteeingsterilization as explained above.

The state of the art is illustrated by documents U.S. Pat. No.3,509,682, U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,367, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,686. In allthose documents, the spacing between the cutting means is equal to thespacing between the receptacles for closing in a row.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to propose apparatus for cutting andfixing receptacles that makes it possible to save capsule stripmaterial.

The apparatus of the invention is particularly adapted to aninstallation for thermoforming receptacles from a thermoplastic strip,for filling the thermoformed receptacles, and for closing the filledreceptacles, in particular when the receptacles are reentrant, havingrims of diameter smaller than the diameter of their bodies.

The apparatus of the invention is also applicable to closing individualreceptacles placed in transverse rows that are advanced stepwise,particularly in an installation for thermoforming receptacles fromprecut shapes and for filling the thermoformed receptacles.

The invention thus provides apparatus comprising:

means for causing a capsule strip to advance stepwise over the pathalong which rows of receptacles advance;

cutting means for cutting out a row of capsules from said capsule strip,said cutting means being disposed parallel to the row of receptacles forclosing and above said row;

transfer means for transferring a row of capsules from the station wheresaid capsules are cut out to a station for placing capsules on thereceptacles for closing in a row;

fixing means for fixing at least partially the capsules placed on therespective rims of said receptacles; and

control means for controlling said means for advancing the capsule stripstepwise, said means for cutting out capsules, said transfer means, andsaid fixing means so that they operate synchronously with the means foradvancing said rows of filled receptacles.

According to the invention, in the apparatus the spacing of the cuttingmeans is smaller than the spacing of the receptacles to be closed, andthe transfer means co-operate with cam paths.

The fact that the capsules are taken from a capsule strip makes iteasier to maintain capsule sterility.

In addition, the size of the advance step of the capsule strip isindependent of the size of the advance step of the rows of receptacles,thus making it possible to reduce wastage in the longitudinal directionof the capsule strip.

In order to achieve further savings of material in the capsule strip,and according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, thepath along which the capsule strip advances is oblique relative to thecutting means for cutting out a row of capsules.

For example, the path along which the capsule strip advances is at anangle of about 60E relative to the cutting means.

Preferably, the size of the advance step of the capsule strip issubstantially equal to the spacing of the cutting means.

The spacing of the cam paths in the zone situated facing the cuttingstation for cutting out the capsules is equal to the spacing of thecutting means, and the spacing of the cam paths in the zone situatedfacing the capsule-placing station is equal to the spacing of thereceptacles to be closed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transfer means fortransferring a row of capsules comprise:

at least one row of parallel holding tubes carried by a cylinder mountedto turn about a support shaft placed facing the cutting station forcutting out capsules and over the station for placing capsules, the freeends of said tubes being suitable for holding the capsules by suction;

means for causing said cylinder to turn stepwise between a position fortaking hold of capsules in which the tubes of said row face the cuttingmeans and a position for placing capsules in which said tubes facedownwards and their free ends are in the vicinity of the receptacles tobe closed; and

means for putting said tubes into communication with a vacuum sourcewhile they are holding capsules and transferring them from the cuttingstation for cutting out the capsules to the placing station, and forputting them into communication with exhaust while the capsules arebeing placed on the receptacles to be closed.

Preferably, the transfer means further comprise means for moving thesupport shaft towards the cutting means while the cylinder is in itsposition for taking hold of a row of capsules, and downwards while thecylinder is in its position for placing capsules so as to enablecapsules to be put into position on the rims of the receptacles.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the cylinder has aplurality of rows of tubes disposed along generator lines that areregularly distributed angularly at the periphery of said cylinder and insuch a manner that when a row of tubes is in its position for takinghold of capsules, another row of tubes is in its position for placingcapsules, said cylinder turning stepwise in the same direction duringeach cycle.

Preferably, the position for taking hold of capsules is diametricallyopposite the position for placing them about the support shaft of thecylinder.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the tubes in a row areslidably mounted independently of one another along respective guideshafts secured to the cylinder and parallel to the support shaft, eachtube having a shoe guided by a cam path that is fixed relative to thesupport shaft of the cylinder.

Preferably, the means for at least partially fixing the capsules thathave been placed on the respective rims of the row of receptacles to beclosed comprise a set of arms that are substantially parallel to theadvance direction of the rows of receptacles to be closed and carried bya shaft disposed above the path along which said rows of receptaclesadvance, the free ends of intermediate arms in said set of arms beingdisposed between the receptacles to be closed and the free ends of theextreme arms being disposed outside the extreme receptacles to beclosed, said shaft being suitable for pivoting between a high positionin which said arms release a passage for the transfer means whiletransferring a row of capsules, and a low position in which the ends ofthe arms bear against the side edges of the capsules placed on the rimsof the receptacles to be closed, said ends of the arms including meansfor fixing spots of said capsules to the rims of the correspondingreceptacles in co-operation with backing tools disposed beneath the siderims of the receptacles to be closed. Most advantageously, the backingtools are stationary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear on readingthe following description given by way of example and made withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an installation for filling rowsof receptacles that are advanced stepwise, and the installation isfitted with apparatus in accordance with the invention for cutting out arow of capsules and for fixing said capsules onto the rims of thereceptacles;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the installation and the apparatus of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side view on a larger scale showing the means for cuttingthe capsule strip and the means for transferring a row of capsules ontoa row of receptacles placed in a station for receiving and fixingcapsules;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the capsule transfer means;

FIG. 5 is a side view of means for fixing the capsules via spots;

FIG. 6 is an end view on line VI—VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section view on a plane of symmetry through a filled andclosed receptacle; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the FIG. 7 receptacle.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a portion of an installation 1 for filling atransverse row of receptacles 2, e.g. made by thermoforming a strip ofthermoplastic material 3, the receptacles being filled with a substancethat is liquid, semiliquid, or gelatinous, and in particular with afoodstuff, the installation then closing the filled receptacles of saidrow by means of capsules 4 taken from a capsule strip 5 by means ofapparatus 20 of the invention.

The receptacles 2 shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8 are reentrantreceptacles, for example, having rims 6 lying in the horizontal plane ofthe path along which the thermoplastic strip 3 travels, said rims beingconnected via respective necks 7 to receptacle bodies 8 of diameter D1greater than the diameter D2 of the periphery 9 of the rim 6 of areceptacle 2.

Each filled and closed receptacle carries a capsule 4 fixed to its rim 6via a continuous bead of heat-sealing 10. The capsule 4 is of a diameterthat is not less than the diameter D2 of the periphery 9 of thereceptacle 2 and it may present a pull tab 11 for making it easier toopen the receptacle 2. The tab 11 extends radially outwards from theperiphery 9 of the receptacle 2, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thereceptacles 2 may be circularly symmetrical about a vertical axis X, butthey may also have a horizontal section that is not circular.

When reentrant receptacles are made by thermoforming in the installation1, the peripheries 9 of the rims 6 of the receptacles 2 are precut priorto the thermoforming via discontinuous lines interrupted by bridgeswhich are subsequently broken by shearing in a station for separatingthe receptacles 2 after the capsules 4 have been sealed.

The apparatus 20 described below can also be adapted to an installationfor filling individual receptacles placed in rows and columns andadvancing stepwise through the installation in the direction of arrow F,the rows extending perpendicularly to the direction of arrow F.

The installation 1 essentially comprises: means for causing thethermoplastic strip to advance stepwise, or for causing a row ofindividual receptacles to advance stepwise in the direction of arrow F;a station 14 for filling a row R₁ of receptacles; a station 16 forplacing and fixing a row of capsules on a previously filled row R₂ ofreceptacles by means of the apparatus 20 of the invention; a station 18for sealing the capsules 4 to the receptacles in a row R₃; and means forcausing the various tools of the installation to operate synchronously.The stations 14, 16, and 18 extend from upstream to downstream in thedirection of arrow F.

It should be observed that the rows R₁, R₂, and R₃ mentioned above arenot necessarily adjacent, they could be separated by other rows ofreceptacles that have been filled or closed, depending on the amount ofroom available for installing the various filling and sealing tools, andalso for installing the apparatus 20.

The apparatus 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is located above the pathalong which the rows R₁, R₂, and R₃ of receptacles are advanced.

The apparatus essentially comprises means 21 for causing a capsule strip5 to advance stepwise synchronously with the installation 1 through astation 22 for cutting out a row of capsules. The capsule strip 5 isunreeled from a reel 23, moves horizontally in the direction of an arrowG through the cutting station 22, and the strip of waste is recovered ina second reel 24.

As can be seen clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutting station 22 islocated above the station 16 for placing the capsules on the receptacles2 in the row R₂, and parallel to said row.

Above the capsule strip 5, the apparatus comprises a set of verticallymovable tools 25 for cutting out capsules, which tools co-operate withbacking tools 26 beneath them, which backing tools are optionallymovable vertically while cutting out a row of capsules. The backingtools 25 are in the form of sleeves having top orifices of outlinematching the outline of the capsule 4 to be cut out together with itspull tab 11. The outline of the cutting tools is complementary to thatof the orifices of the sleeves. The outlines of the sleeve orifices inhorizontal planes flare downwards so as to enable the capsules 4 thathave been cut out by the tools 25 to be extracted as explained below.References 27 a and 27 b designate two rollers for driving the capsulestrip, said rollers being disposed horizontally and extendingperpendicularly to the travel direction G of the capsule strip 5 anddefining the horizontal path along which the capsule strip 5 advancesthrough the station 22 for cutting out the capsules 4.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 and above all in FIG. 2, the capsule strip 5moves horizontally through the cutting station 22 in the direction ofarrow G, which direction is oblique relative to the travel direction ofthe rows of receptacles R₁, R₂, and R₃ as defined by arrow F.

In contrast, the station 22 for cutting out capsules and the station 16for placing capsules on the receptacles are both perpendicular to thetravel direction of the rows of receptacles. It can also be seen in FIG.2 that the spacing E₁ of the cutting tools 25 is smaller than thespacing E₂ of the receptacle 2 in a given row, i.e. smaller than thespacing of the columns of receptacles passing through the installation1. This disposition makes it possible to reduce wastage in the strip ofstraps coming from the capsule strip 5 after rows of capsules have beencut out. In addition, assuming the capsules 4 are substantiallycircular, the size of the advance step P₁ of the capsule strip 5 duringeach cycle is substantially equal to the spacing E₁ of the cutting tools25.

Advantageously, the path along which the capsule strip 5 advances asdefined by arrow G is at an angle of 60E to the direction in which thetools 25 and 26 in the capsule cutting station 22 are aligned. Thenumber of capsules 4 that are cut out in a single cycle is naturallyequal to the number of receptacles 2 constituting a row.

The apparatus 20 also has means 30 for transferring a row of cutoutcapsules from the cutting station 22 to the station 16 where a row ofcapsules 4 is placed on the receptacles 2 in the row R₂. These transfermeans 30 which are shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprise a pluralityof pairs of rows of diametrically opposite tubes 31 a, 31 b placed ongenerator lines that are regularly spaced apart angularly at theperiphery of a cylinder 32 capable of turning stepwise about a supportshaft 33 carried by uprights 33 a, 33 b disposed on either side of thepath along which the thermoplastic strip 3 advances.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the cylinder 32 comprises, for example, threeopposite pairs of rows of tubes 31 a, 31 b and the cylinder 32 turnsthrough 60E on each cycle in the direction of arrow R, and in such amanner that when cutting out a row of capsules in the cutting station22, a row of tubes referenced 31 a is on top of the cylinder in registerwith the bottom orifices of the sleeves 26, while the row of tubes 31 bis at the bottom of the cylinder in register with the station 16 forplacing the capsules.

The support shaft 33 is parallel to the row R₂ of receptacles and to therow of cutting tools 25, and it is located substantially halfway betweenthe rims 6 of the receptacles 2 in the row R₂ and the sleeves 26 so asto enable the cylinder 32 to rotate stepwise in the direction of arrowR.

The tubes 31 a and 31 b extend radially at the periphery of the cylinder32 and their outer ends are fitted with suction cups 34 a, 34 b enablingthe capsules that have been cut out in the cutting station to be held bysuction. Reference 35 designates hoses that serve to put the bores ofthe tubes 31 a and of the tubes on the left in FIG. 3 into communicationwith a vacuum source 36 and for putting the tubes 31 b and the tubessituated to the right in FIG. 3 into communication with an exhaust orwith a source of pressure 37, via a rotary joint 38 mounted on thesupport shaft 33 and shown in FIG. 4, said source and said exhaustforming parts of a conventional pneumatic circuit that does not requirefurther explanation.

The support shaft 33 is vertically movable from its mean position inwhich the cylinder 32 is free to turn. It can move firstly to a lowposition for placing capsules 4 onto the rims 6 of the receptacles 2 inthe station 16, in which position the suction cups 34 b of the tubes 31b move down onto the receptacles 2 and take up the position referenced34 b ′ in FIGS. 5 and 6, and secondly to a high position while thecapsules are being cut out in the cutting station 22, in which positionthe suction cups 34 a of the tubes 31 a penetrate into the top orificesof the sleeves 26, taking up the position referenced 34 a′ in FIG. 3,where they take hold of the cutout capsules by suction. In thisposition, the suction cups 34 b of the tubes 31 b rise into the positionreferenced 34 b″ in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Reference 39 visible in FIGS. 3 and 5 designates a plate situated in thecutting station above the receptacles 2 and below the pivot path of thesuction cups 34 b, having orifices 40 matching the section of thecapsules 4 and enabling the capsules 4 that are brought in by thesuction cups 34 b to be centered.

When the bottom suction cups 34 b have been brought over the orifices 40by turning the cylinder 32, the tubes 31 b are connected to the exhaustand the capsules 4 previously held by said suction cups 34 b tend todrop into the orifices 40.

At the same time, the suction cups 34 b are moved towards the position34 b′ beneath the orifices 40 to apply a very small amount of force onthe capsules 4 which have already been centered by the orifices 40 thatare accurately positioned above the rims 6 of the receptacles in the rowR₂. During this operation, the suction cups 34 a of the top tubes 31 aalso move downwards.

Thereafter, the support shaft 33 is raised towards its high position andthe suction cups 34 a in the position referenced 34 a′ suck in thecapsules that are being cut out. The top tubes 31 a are maintained undersuction during three cycles, in the example shown in the drawings, untilthey reach the bottom position of the cylinder 32.

In order to enable the spacing between two adjacent tubes 31 in a row oftubes to vary between the value E₁ and the value E₂ as shown in FIG. 2,the tubes in each row of tubes are slidably mounted as can be seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, the tubes sliding independently of one another along arespective guide shaft 41 a for the tubes 31 a, and 41 b for the tubes31 b, their axes being parallel to the support shaft 33, and each tube31 has an inner shoe fitted with a cam-follower wheel 42 that is guidedaxially along the periphery of the support shaft 33 by a cam path 43.

The installation 1 shown in the drawings has four columns of receptaclesdisposed in rows.

Each row of tubes also has four tubes 31 and the periphery of thesupport shaft 33 has four cam paths 43 which are spaced apart in the topzone of the support shaft 33 by a distance equal to E₁ and that arespaced apart in the bottom zone of the support shaft 33 by a distanceequal to E₂. The tubes 31 are caused to slide along their guide shafts41 a or 41 b in conventional manner by means of bushings and slideways.

The apparatus 20 of the invention also comprises means 50 for causingthe capsules 4 that have been placed on the rims 6 of the receptacles 2in the row R₂ in the station 16 to be fixed thereto, at least in part.These means 50 can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. They essentially comprise aset of arms 51 extending parallel to the direction F in which the rowsof receptacles are displaced, and placed immediately above the pathalong which the receptacles advance. These arms 51 are supported by ashaft 52 capable of pivoting between a high position in which the ends55 of the arms 51 are above the suction cups 34 b, and a low position inwhich the ends 55 of the arms 51 fix the capsules that have been placedon the receptacles 2 in the station 16.

In the installation 1 shown in the drawings and having four columns ofreceptacles, there are five arms 51, with the end arms lying outside theouter columns and with the three intermediate arms being disposedbetween respective pairs of adjacent columns of receptacles.

The ends 55 of the arms 51 are situated above the capsule-placingstation 16.

Each arm 51 is of a width that is narrow enough to allow a suction cupcarrying a capsule to pass between two adjacent arms 51 whiletransferring the capsules. The ends 55 of the arms are broader than thegap between two adjacent capsules as deposited by the tubes 31 b on thereceptacles 2 in the station 16. The bottom faces of these ends 55 havemeans for fixing the capsules 4 to the rims 6 of the receptacles in thestation 16 via fixing spots achieved by co-operating with preferablyfixed backing tools 53 located between the columns of receptacles andoutside the outer columns. When the receptacles 2 are made ofthermoplastic material, the fixing means can be constituted by hot studs54, for example so that by pressing on the side edges of the capsules 4placed on the rims 6 of the receptacles they establish fixing spotsbetween the capsules 4 and the rims 6 of the receptacles by melting thethermoplastic material.

The ends 55 of the intermediate arms 51 carry four studs 54, forexample, two of which fix the capsule on the receptacle in theright-hand column and the other two of which fix the left-hand capsuleon the corresponding receptacle, with the ends 55 of the outer arms thushaving only two studs 54 each.

Final sealing of the capsules 4 on the receptacles 2 is performed in asubsequent cycle in the sealing station 18, where continuous beads ofheat-sealing 10 are provided.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for cutting out a row of capsules in a capsulestrip and for fixing them on a transverse row of filled receptaclesadvancing stepwise through an installation for filling receptacles, theapparatus comprising: means for causing a capsule strip to advancestepwise over the path along which rows of receptacles advance; cuttingmeans for cutting out a row of capsules from said capsule strip, saidcutting means being disposed parallel to the row of receptacles forclosing and above said row; transfer means for transferring a row ofcapsules from the station where said capsules are cut out to a stationfor placing capsules on the receptacles for closing in a row; fixingmeans for fixing at least partially the capsules placed on therespective rims of said receptacles; and control means for controllingsaid means for advancing the capsule strip stepwise, said means forcutting out capsules, said transfer means, and said fixing means so thatthey operate synchronously with the means for advancing said rows offilled receptacles, wherein the spacing of the cutting means is smallerthan the spacing of the receptacles to be closed, and wherein thetransfer means cc-operate with cam paths.
 2. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the path along which the capsule strip advances isoblique relative to the cutting means for cutting out a row of capsules.3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the path along which thecapsule strip advances is at an angle of about 60E relative to thecutting means.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size ofthe advance step of the capsule strip is substantially equal to thespacing of the cutting means.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe spacing of the cam paths in the zone situated facing the cuttingstation for cutting out the capsules is equal to the spacing of thecutting means, and the spacing of the cam paths in the zone situatedfacing the capsule-placing station is equal to the spacing of thereceptacles to be closed.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thetransfer means for transferring a row of capsules comprise: at least onerow of parallel holding tubes carried by a cylinder mounted to turnabout a support shaft placed facing the cutting station for cutting outcapsules and over the station for placing capsules, the free ends ofsaid tubes being suitable for holding the capsules by suction; means forcausing said cylinder to turn stepwise between a position for takinghold of capsules in which the tubes of said row face the cutting meansand a position for placing capsules in which said tubes face downwardsand their free ends are in the vicinity of the receptacles to be closed;and means for putting said tubes into communication with a vacuum sourcewhile they are holding capsules and transferring them from the cuttingstation for cutting out the capsules to the placing station, and forputting them into communication with exhaust while the capsules arebeing placed on the receptacles to be closed.
 7. Apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the transfer means further comprise means for movingthe support shaft towards the cutting means while the cylinder is in itsposition for taking hold of a row of capsules, and downwards while thecylinder is in its position for placing capsules so as to enablecapsules to be put into position on the rims of the receptacles. 8.Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cylinder has a plurality ofrows of tubes disposed along generator lines that are regularlydistributed angularly at the periphery of said cylinder and in such amanner that when a row of tubes is in its position for taking hold ofcapsules, another row of tubes is in its position for placing capsules,said cylinder turning stepwise in the same direction during each cycle.9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the position for taking holdof capsules is diametrically opposite the position for placing themabout the support shaft of the cylinder.
 10. Apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the tubes in a row are slidably mounted independentlyof one another along respective guide shafts secured to the cylinder andparallel to the support shaft, each tube having a shoe guided by a campath that is fixed relative to the support shaft of the cylinder. 11.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for at east partiallyfixing the capsules that have been placed on the respective rims of therow of receptacles to be closed comprise a set of arms that aresubstantially parallel to the advance direction of the rows ofreceptacles to be closed and carried by a shaft disposed above the pathalong which said rows of receptacles advance, the free ends ofintermediate arms in said set of arms being disposed between thereceptacles to be closed and the free ends of the extreme arms beingdisposed outside the extreme receptacles co be closed, said shaft beingsuitable for pivoting between a high position in which said arms releasea passage for the transfer means while transferring a row of capsules,and a low posit ion in which the ends of the arms bear against the sideedges of the capsule placed on the rims of the receptacles to be closed,said ends of the arms including means for fixing spots of said capsulesto the rims of the corresponding receptacles in co-operation withbacking tools disposed beneath the side rims of the receptacles to beclosed.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the backing toolsare stationary.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus beingassociated with an installation for thermoforming and fillingreceptacles from a strip of thermoplastic material.
 14. Apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein the installation for thermoforming andfilling receptacles makes receptacles that are reentrant.
 15. Apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the receptacle comprises a body and a rimconnected to the body by a neck, said rim having a diameter smaller thanthe diameter of the body.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 1, theapparatus being associate with an installation for thermoformingreceptacles from shapes that have been previously cut out and forfilling the thermoformed receptacles.